Staff at Cherry Orchard household waste recycling centre spotted smoke and flames coming from a waste skip on Sunday (25 October 2026).
On investigating, they found that a rechargeable lithium-ion battery had been placed in a black bag alongside other household waste, Warwickshire County Council said.
The site was evacuated and closed to the public while Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service attended to extinguish the fire, which had spread to a neighbouring skip containing cardboard.
Operations at the site were disrupted for around an hour and a half.
Councillor Darren Cheshire, Warwickshire County Council’s portfolio holder for environment, heritage and culture, paid tribute to the swift response from recycling centre staff and the fire and rescue service.
He commented: “This incident at Cherry Orchard serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of incorrectly disposing of batteries and other hazardous items.
“We are incredibly grateful to staff at the centre and Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service for their swift and effective response.
“It’s crucial that residents understand the correct way to dispose of items like batteries, vapes, and electricals to prevent future fires and ensure the safety of our recycling centre staff and the wider community.
“We urge everyone to utilise the dedicated facilities provided at our Household Waste Recycling Centres or through other designated collection points.”
The council apologised to local residents and customers whose visits to the site were affected by the incident.
Fires in the waste and recycling sector
The incident comes amid continued concern over fires at waste and recycling facilities across the UK and Ireland, with operators and fire services reporting persistent incidents involving mixed waste and recyclable materials.
Industry bodies including the Environmental Services Association (ESA) have warned that battery-related fires – particularly those linked to improperly disposed lithium-ion batteries – are now occurring at what they describe as “epidemic levels”.
Batteries present a severe fire risk when they are crushed or otherwise improperly managed and should be disposed of via specialist battery bins, which can be found in supermarkets.
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